Leopoldo Fernandez, a Cuban comedian who starred in...

November 13, 1985

MIAMI — Leopoldo Fernandez, a Cuban comedian who starred in television and radio shows in the 1950s, died Monday at his home in Miami.

Known as ''Tres Papines'' or Three Skates, Fernandez was best known for his role as a zany lawbreaking character on the Cuban television show La Tremenda Corte, which still is in syndication and runs daily throughout Latin America and on at least one Miami station.

In the show, Fernandez played a character who was arrested every show for a silly offense and hauled into the same courtroom with the same judge and court clerk. Fernandez would explain the circumstances leading to his arrest in such complicated manner that he invariably invoked the judge's anger and a jail sentencing.

The show began in Cuba in the 1950s. Fernandez left Cuba with millions of others after Fidel Castro came to power.